Ramblings about knitting, life, exploits, and other things.

November 24, 2010

Me again, dabbling in politics

Some folks at Pixar put out a wonderful addition to the Trevor project. It made me cry. It's full of hope and support for the LGBT youth who are suffering through bullying behaviors at school (and college, and work....).

It's yet another wonderful message to those who are feeling picked on.

But -- as this newspaper report shows, people arent' just being bullied for being gay. Bullying is far too prevalent in our schools. It's just harder for gay students, because fewer people seem to be ready to stand up for them.

And because they spend so much of their time worrying about who knows, and who doesn't, and who is going to "do something about it" -- and not in a good way.

As they say -- this isn't just about bullying.... it's about curricula, and assumptions and simply the way we interact with each other.

Among the excellent remarks in this video are those that point out that those who "come out" don't do it just once. They have to do it over and over and over again. They do it daily, really, until everyone they've met or will meet knows.

Think about that. EVERY DAY they have to identify themselves as being "different" or "other" or ... "not like you." And every day they have to hear that what they are isn't "normal" even when no one is specifically saying anything about their sexuality.

It's in what we "assume" about each other.

It's in the literature we're assigned to read in school (starting in kindergarten).

It's in the history we teach.

It's in health class.

It's points out that we have a CULTURE of don't ask don't tell. How wrong is that? How can it be okay teach our kids that they should not tell us who they are? How can it be okay to raise them in ways that tell them every day that they're not okay?

Sigh.

And although it very much applies to the LGBT people in our society (people who cannot simply be pigeonholed into a bunch of letters), it also applies to all sorts of people in our society:

It applies to non-Christians in much of America (oh sure, Jews are okay, sort of... but... well, the CHRISTIAN holidays are the "real" ones right?)

It applies to non-whites

It applies to non-native English speakers (even if they are white Christians heterosexuals)

And still, it applise to women - even the straight, Christian, native English speakers.

Yes, it can and will get better. But these folks are working on more than just reducing bullying behavior... they're working on helping us accept that all sorts of flowers make a garden. I hope they come to YOUR town soon.

I'm just a human being who believes with all my heart that we all deserve to be treated with dignity, and accepted, and respected, for who we are -- until our own behavior harms others in a way that warrants the removal of that respect. I sure wish more people acted that way.